How to Furnish a House on a Shoestring Budget

Many designers recommend spending anywhere from 10 to 50 percent of your home’s value on furniture. For a $400,000 house, that means $40,000, minimum!

If you’re not prepared for that (and let’s face it, who is?), don’t worry.

We’re sharing some of our best tips to help you furnish a house without having to take out a second mortgage!

How to Save Money and Furnish a House

These tips will help you get the most bang for your buck when looking for furniture for your new home.

Take Your Time and Prioritize

Once you’ve bought a house, it’s easy to feel like you need to fill every room as quickly as possible.

Remember though, you don’t need to drop a ton of money all at once. You’re going to be living in this place for the next 30 years, so it’s worth it to take your time and look for furniture that you love and can afford.

Start by thinking about which rooms need to be furnished first. Maybe you don’t need to fully furnish your basement, but a couch in the living room would probably be nice. Think about where you’ll spend the majority of your time and start by focusing on those rooms.

Do Your Research

When trying to furnish a house, the first place most people go is a website like Craigslist to look for used items. You’ll notice pretty quickly, though, that there’s a ton of options out there, and it doesn’t take long to get overwhelmed.

To narrow down your search and make the process more enjoyable, start by searching the websites for various furniture stores and make note of the items you like best. Then, you’ll have something specific to look for. This is much easier than just typing in “couch” on Craigslist and digging through 500 pages of choices.

Don’t avoid certain items just because they’re outside of your price range, either. People often sell expensive items for much more affordable prices online. If you like something, look around to see if you can find it being sold for cheaper.

Make Price Watching Easy

You probably don’t want to spend hours on Craigslist checking for new items to be uploaded.

To make your life easier, try to automate your price checking process. Not only does this alert you when new items are uploaded, but it also makes it easier for you to compare online prices with in-store ones.

IFTTT is a great app that alerts you every time a piece of furniture that you’ve searched for is posted.

Look at Thrift and Consignment Stores

Thrift and consignment stores are great places to go when trying to furnish a house on the cheap.

You definitely have to be willing to spend some time digging. But, you can easily find unique, high-quality used pieces. You might also find some rare collectibles that will add flair to your home!

Splurge Strategically

You can find tons of great used furniture online and at thrift stores. But, there are some items that can be worth buying new.

For example, you should try to buy at least your mattress and living room sofa new. Used mattresses and sofas might wear out faster and will probably be less comfortable than a new model.

Then, there’s the cleanliness factor. Unless you want to also pay to have them professionally cleaned, you might also have to deal with the unpleasant smells, pet hair, and dirt that can gather on these types of furnishings over the years.

Appliances are another furniture category that should generally be bought new.

You can actually end up saving money, sometimes, by buying new appliances.

The best dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines are made to last for several years. And, you most likely won’t have to spend a lot of extra money on repairs later on like you might if you bought used products.

Ask for Cash Discounts

When you’re buying something new, there are still options that can help you save money. Try asking for cash discounts, and be sure to scour the back of the store for the best deals.

Most stores are willing to negotiate on price, too. In fact, it’s rarely expected that you’ll end up paying the sticker price. So, don’t be afraid to try and haggle to get a better price on an item.

Have a Pickup Plan

Some people forget that, after they buy used furniture, they’re responsible for getting it back to their homes.

If you can’t borrow a truck or van from a family member or friend, you’ll probably have to rent one. To get the most out of this expense, plan to pick up all your furniture in one fell swoop. That way, you don’t have to rent a separate truck for every single purchase.

Tips for Buying Used Furniture

Whether you’re buying used furniture, there are some things you need to keep in mind to ensure you get pieces that both look good and will last.

Make Multiple Trips to the Same Stores

Thrift and consignment stores are constantly getting new items in. If you don’t see anything you like during your first trip, come back again in a week. You might find the perfect piece of furniture if you’re willing to wait!

At the same time, make multiple “loops” when you’re shopping. It’s easy to miss things the first time around. One way to get the most out of your trip is to look for larger items on your first loop and smaller pieces the second time.

Know What Quality Looks Like

Keep these tips in mind when inspecting an item to ensure you’re getting a quality piece of furniture:

Look for dovetail or mortise-and-tenon joints (these are stronger)

Give the item a light shake to check for instability, creaking, orloose joints

Avoid items held together will glue, nails, or staples

In general, you should be the pickiest about signs of poor construction or composition. Look for “good bones” instead of a perfect item. Remember, little details like scuffs or scratches can usually be dealt with pretty easily.

Don’t Feel Bad About Changing Your Mind

If you loved an item online but aren’t as impressed with it in person, that’s okay! Don’t feel like you need to go through with the purchase if you truly don’t like the piece.

It’s better to annoy a seller momentarily by changing your mind than it is to furnish a house with an item that you hate.

Know How to Negotiate

There’s room to haggle with new items, but there are even more opportunities when shopping for used furniture. Try these tactics to get used items at discounted prices:

Hesitate a bit after hearing the price

Point out imperfections like scratches or dents

Point out discrepancies between online postings and the real thing

Explain the benefits of selling the piece to you at a lower price

At the same time, don’t push your luck. Recognize when you’re being presented with a good deal, and take it.

Start Furnishing Your Home Today

Now that you know what to look for when trying to furnish a house, it’s time to start shopping!

You don’t have to choose between finding items you love and paying your bills. Keep these tips in mind, and your home will be filled with eye-catching, affordable pieces of furniture before you know it!